10 biggest diamond heists

Click through these photos to take a look at 10 of the biggest jewel hiests in the world:

In 2013, a staggering $136 million worth of diamonds and other
jewels was stolen from the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in
Cannes, in one of Europe's biggest jewelry heists in recent years,
police said. One expert noted the crime follows recent jail escapes by
members of the notorious "Pink Panther" jewel thief gang.

Brazen heists like this aren't as uncommon as you might think, here is a look at some of the biggest diamond heists in recent memory. less

Click through these photos to take a look at 10 of the biggest jewel hiests in the world:

In 2013, a staggering $136 million worth of diamonds and other jewels was stolen from the Carlton Intercontinental ... more

Photo: Richard Goerg, Getty

Click through these photos to take a look at 10 of the biggest... Photo-4600510.62004 - Times Union

Image 2 of 12

Graff Diamonds, London (2009)

Two men had a professional makeup artist apply wigs, makeup and facial prosthetics to disguise their identities before stealing $65 million of diamonds and jewelry. The pair was caught and arrested within days but the loot was never recovered.

Two men had a professional makeup artist apply wigs, makeup and facial prosthetics to disguise their identities before stealing $65 million of diamonds and jewelry. The pair was ... more

Photo: Getty Images

Graff Diamonds, London (2009) Two men had a professional makeup... Photo-4600148.62004 - Times Union

Image 3 of 12

Harry Winston store, Paris (2008)

Four armed men dressed in drag took high-end diamond retailer Harry Winston for $107 million in loot. Police suspect an inside job — they called some employees by first names — but there have been no arrests made.

Thieves drilled a hole through a four-foot wall and, dressed as cops, surprised the staff before tying them up and raiding the joint. They made off with $65 million in jewels, but the haul could have been larger if much of the collection was not out on loan to Hollywood stars for the Oscars.

A mystery man spent months ingratiating himself with bank staff with gifts and charming small talk in order to gain access to a VIP vault. Because of this, he was able to bypass security and strong arm his way into five security deposit boxes, taking $28 million in uncut diamonds. less

ABN Amro Bank, Antwerp, Belgium (2007)

A mystery man spent months ingratiating himself with bank staff with gifts and charming small talk in order to gain access to a VIP vault. Because of this, he was able to ... more

Armed men in a stolen KLM truck hijacked a similar KLM truck carrying approximately $128 million in uncut diamonds headed for a flight to Antwerp. Police suspect an inside job, but no arrests have been made.

An Italian man planned this job for at least a year, renting an office space in the Antwerp Diamond Center so he could gain 24-hour access to the building. Posing as a diamond trader he raided 123 security deposit boxes used by diamond traders, netting approximately $100 million in diamonds. The leader of the gang was later caught based on DNA evidence from a partially eaten sandwich left near the scene of the crime.

Security guards, cameras and motion detectors didn't stop thieves from taking $12 million in jewels from the Museon Museum of Science in the Hague in 2002. In fact, not trace of the heist was even seen on film or by guards. On of the most valuable pieces takes was reportedly a wedding gift given to Queen Mary II in the 1600s.

A gang of thieves attempted to steal $700 million in diamonds and gems (including the necklace pictured) in an elaborate smash-and-grab at the Millennium Dome. Police, however, had been tipped off and converged on the suspects while disguised as a cleaning crew. The cops had also switched out the gems with fakes the night before, just in case. less

Millennium Dome, London (2000)

A gang of thieves attempted to steal $700 million in diamonds and gems (including the necklace pictured) in an elaborate smash-and-grab at the Millennium Dome. Police, however, had ... more

Three masked gunmen burst into the jewelry shop at the posh Carton Cannes and sprayed machine gun fire around to intimidate the staff (they had been firing blanks), before pulling off a smash-and-grab robbery. The gang made off with $60 million in gems. Ironically, the hotel was a major location in the 1955 Hitchcock thriller, "To Catch a Thief," starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

Robbers with an inside connection took a warehouse at Heathrow Airport for $39 million in gold bullion, diamonds and cash. The loot was never recovered, though two men served prison sentences in connection with the heist.